Remembering Andrew Taylor

Today, Houston is a less vibrant city. There is a hole in the heart of The Daily Cougar; our former opinion editor and UH alumnus, Andrew Taylor, died on Saturday. He was 23.

On Saturday morning, Andrew had an accident while cycling with a group of friends. According to a blog post on spacecitycycling.com by Crystal Haddock, Andrew fell off his bike and was hit by a pickup truck. He was lifeflighted, but unfortunately passed away.

Andrew was a great man, dedicated coworker and an amazing friend. He always had a smile on his face and never turned a friend down. If you were having a bad day, Andrew would ask what was bothering you — he made time for everyone.

His love for life was infectious. Andrew loved to try new things, and nothing stopped him from appreciating everything around him. Whether he was working as a barista, editing a story or just socializing, Andrew brought joy wherever he went.

Humor was no stranger to Andrew. His hats were the stuff of legend; whether it was a fedora, a knitted panda hat or a beret, he was always wearing something hilarious. He didn’t care what others thought of his eclectic fashion sense — if he wanted to wear suspenders and a vest, then that is what he very well did.

Few people were as smart as him, and the few people who tried to debate with him retreated quickly; he had the facts and the logic to tear down all but the best arguments. As an opinion editor and an economics major, he was always one of the brightest people in the room.

At times like this, the world seems cold and dark. No one deserves to be torn away so abruptly — least of all a person as caring as Andrew.

The Daily Cougar wants to send our heartfelt condolences to the Taylor family and to all of Andrew’s friends. A-Tay, we love you, we miss you, and we will never forget you. You changed our lives.